Galle Face Green, Colombo | Beach Things To Do, Timings

Galle Face Beach, Colombo Overview

The Galle Face Green is a beautiful beach park located in Fort Colombo along its eastern coastline. Spread over almost five hectares, it is popular for activities like kite flying, fishing, football, beach volleyball, jogging, and relaxing by the beach. It also offers stunning sunrise and sunset views. There are many stalls along the beach selling food, drinks, and souvenirs.

This area was initially laid out in 1859 by Governor Sir Henry George Ward. It is frequently visited by many locals in Colombo to sit back, relax, and spend some quality time with loved ones. All this makes it the perfect coastal marvel, making the most out of the sea, stars, and sand.

Things to do at Galle Face Green

Galle Face Green has a lot of fun and exciting things to keep one entertained for most of the day. One can relax and rejuvenate at the beach, or try out some delicious snacks sold by street vendors nearby. One can also visit the nearby Galle Face Hotel or take a fascinating historical tour through the Galle Fort.

1. Watch the soothing sunset at Galle Face Green:
Take a stroll through the Galle Face Green and enjoy the beautiful evening with the beautiful blend of orange and yellow hues set in the deep blue sky. The best time to enjoy the sunset is somewhere around 4:00 and 5:00 PM. Relax and unwind after a long day in the Sri Lankan heat and bask in the glory of the sunset.

2. Enjoy some authentic Sri Lankan snacks at Galle Face Green Night Market:
The Galle Face Green Night Market is known to be one of the most popular and best places to taste some of the most in-demand street food. You can enjoy a full three-course meal by hopping to different places. Nana's is quite a popular place and is very famous for its snacks called ‘Kottu’. The dish is a local Sri Lankan delicacy which is prepared out of Sri Lankan curry, chapati (Indian flatbread), vegetables, fish and meat which is topped off with some local spices for that spicy flavour.

Head out for a drink at the Elephant Ginger Beer, once here try out the EGB, which is a famous brand of soda in Sri Lanka. For dessert, try out the famous ‘Saravita dessert’ which is a delicacy prepared out of shredded coconut and served in the betel leaves after adding some artificial sweeteners. If you are looking to try some different types of snacks, do try ‘Hoppers', which are pancakes in the shape of the bowl, which can be accompanied with some fresh eggs.

3. Visit the luxurious Galle Face Hotel:
The Galle Face Hotel is one of the oldest properties in Colombo built-in 1864 by the British. Till today the hotel has been visited by many renowned people like Indira Gandhi, Yuri Gagarin, and Richard Nixon. There are over 150 rooms at the property, and it has a gorgeous ambience which includes elegant furniture pieces, carved wooden doors, and antique store pieces. The highlight of the hotel is the saltwater swimming pool, which is the only one in Colombo. However, unfortunately, it can only be accessed if someone is a guest at the hotel. Try out the Seaspray restaurant for some authentic Sri Lankan seafood.

4. Take a historical tour of the Galle Fort:
The Galle Fort is one of the most beautiful buildings near the Galle Face Green. Galle Fort is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is breathtaking with many ancient fortifications. Another interesting fact is that the Galle Fort has survived the wrath of the Sri Lankan tsunami in 2004 and stands strong and tall even today.

History of Galle Face Green

The history of Galle Face Green goes back to the 18th Century. It was at this time that the then Governor of British Ceylon Sir Henry Ward who had made the plan for the structure. At that time the structure was supposed to be much larger than what it is today. However, before the British, it was the Dutch who laid down the plan which would serve as a strategic line of fire by the Portuguese. There are also a few legends and stories which are woven around Galle Face Green. One of the stories claims that the promenade was being built for the ‘fair ladies’ to get some fresh air.

How To Reach Galle Face Green

The Galle Face Green is central to Colombo, and you can easily access it through many different modes of transport. Hiring a private taxi from Colombo to Galle Face Green will not take more than half an hour. The cost for the same would be somewhere between SLR 2000 to 2500.

Another cheaper option available would be to take a direct bus from the Katunayake Airport Bus Station. The bus will drop you off at Colombo Bastian Mawatha Bus Terminal from where Galle Face Green is just an hour and a half away. The cost of the journey would be around SLR 140-150.